[Electron microscopic morphometric studies of the development of peroxisomes in healthy piglets during the first 4 weeks of life].

The number of hepatic peroxisomes, cores, marginal plates, and microperoxisomes in piglets increases from a low level at birth, compared with other species e.g. the rat, to day 28 of life. The number of peroxisomes is correlated to the activity of uricase, but morphometry alone is not sufficient to quantitate uricase activity. These findings might explain the occurrence of renal uric acid deposition (infarction) during a catabolic state, where body protein is metabolized to an increased extent and purine levels rise. Due to a relative lack of uricase uric acid is not completely oxidised to allantoin.